ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was raving after Friday's practice about the maturity that his quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is showing at 24 years old.
None of it surprises head coach Jim Schwartz.
"I was saying that it's hard to believe he's 21," Schwartz said. "I mean he might even shave twice a week now.
"When he got that big signing bonus, he didn't spend much on razors. He didn't have to."
The still young face of Stafford is the unquestionable leader of the Lions offense.
Linehan admitted he looks like "a lot better coach" because of Stafford's development and maturity.
Stafford suffered through two injury-plagued seasons to start his NFL career before passing for 5,038 yards last year.
"He's had a great camp, a great offseason," Linehan said. "It's hard to say a 24-year-old kid is mature as he is, but he's in his fourth year, he's taken such command of everything we do offensively — and naturally so, it just comes with the territory.
"The ownership he's taken in the offense, all the little things that we do on a daily basis, really shows me he's now a true veteran."
Linehan elaborated on how Stafford makes the offense go.
"It's little things that you don't see, subtle things that we tend to take for granted," Linehan said. "The reminder may be to a young player, 'Hey, make sure you're running a good route on this. I know you don't expect it, but if I get this coverage ...'
"You don't see that stuff. That's the thing that's so valuable when you've got an experienced quarterback that can flat-out play like ours. It's invaluable."
Schwartz said the ups and downs have only made Stafford better than ever now.
"He's played three years in the NFL," Schwartz said. "He's thrown for 5,000 (yards), led a team to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
"He also went through some rough seasons. That first year, he got banged around pretty good, didn't have a lot of pieces in place around him. He came back the next year and got hurt, missed a significant portion of the season.
"He's not just a little more mature, he's more experienced. He's been through so many different situations in the NFL, even being 24 years old.
"Matthew's got a good head on his shoulders. He's always had a lot of confidence. I don't think anything, injury-wise or anything else, could shake that."
EXTRA POINTS
Linebacker Stephen Tulloch (tendinitis in knee) sat out practice as a precautionary measure.
... Rookie cornerback Bill Bentley, a third-round pick, has gotten some reps with the first-team defense in recent days. He also is being used as a nickel back when the Lions go with five defensive backs.
... Brady Hoke and his Michigan coaching staff attended the morning practice. The Wolverines begin their camp Monday.
